The History Department offers three Master's programs. The first, a one-year Master of Arts in Comparative History, is registered by the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York (US) for and on behalf of the New York State Education Department, and is also accredited as "further professional training" ("szakirányú továbbképzés") by the Hungarian Accreditation Committee.

The second, available since September 2008, is a two-year MA degree in Comparative History with two tracks: Late Antique, Medieval, and Renaissance Studies and the Comparative History from 1500 till present time created specifically for those students who will graduate with a 3-year Bachelor of Arts degree from European institutions, but which is also an option for others whose previous training makes this more appropriate. In November 2007, this new program became registered by the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York (US) for and on behalf of the New York State Education Department, and in July 2008 by the Hungarian Accreditation Committee.

The two-year MA in Comparative History degree is accredited both in Hungary and the US. However, those who wish to obtain a double-accredited degree must adhere to the requirements specified in the Hungarian Higher Education Act. The Act currently stipulates that by the time of their enrollment accepted students must have at least 50 credits in the field of history completed throughout their previous BA or MA courses. Students who do not meet this precondition need to fulfill additional requirements prescribed by the faculty.

Third, beginning from Fall 2008 interested students may also pursue the MATILDA European Master in Women's and Gender History, offered by CEU's departments of History and Gender Studies in collaboration with several other leading European universities (Vienna, Lyon, Nottingham, Sofia) within the EU Erasmus program.

Character of the programs

The Master's programs explore comparative themes in the history of Central, Southeastern, and Eastern Europe within a wider European context. A special emphasis is placed on topics highlighting the interplay of indigenous experience and external influence, which supply the historical individuality of the regions of the European landmass east of the Rhine. Such themes include patterns of social development, cultural history, and everyday life from the Reformation through the Enlightenment to modernity; problems of modernization, backwardness and unequal development; modern ideologies; empires and imperial structures; nationhood and the nation state; varieties of authoritarianism such as fascism and communism and their historical reflection. In order to foster a critical spirit of inquiry and high standards of verification, the empirical themes are supplemented by a solid training in methodology, especially the epistemological issues related to the study of history and historiography. The syllabi for our courses provide concrete examples of the readings and issues taught in the MA program.

Our MA programs are graduate programs. The department does not inculcate knowledge that was supposedly acquired in undergraduate education. Students are expected to develop familiarity with, and experience in, the basic skills of independent research. Faculty members offer guidance, assistance, and supervision in students' own creative work and, naturally, information on fields which students may not have studied earlier.

Our MA programs are programs in comparative history. This does not imply that students are expected to work on topics that are per se comparative. It means, however, that they should strive to develop an ability to place their topics in a comparative perspective. In order to achieve this, they should be prepared to obtain training and participate in research discussions of several fields of scholarship besides their own specialization, primarily by selecting courses that point beyond the thematic, spatial and temporal boundaries of the subject of their theses. They should also take advantage of the interdisciplinary background of our faculty, and to a certain extent also of their peers, many of whom have been previously trained in a discipline other than history.

Continuing Studies

The department encourages its best graduates to continue their scholarly work at CEU or other universities. For many students, the MA in History counts as the first step in the PhD program. Those wishing to proceed to the doctoral program at CEU may apply for acceptance until February 1, 2018.

Specializations and advanced certificate programs

Master's students may also pursue a number of specializations and advanced certificate programs within the department. These programs mark academic fields of particular relevance in which there is a coalescence of faculty strength between the History Department and other CEU units. The specializations and advanced certificate programs do not imply separate degrees: students who have successfully completed the requirements receive, together with the regular CEU MA degree, a certificate of attendance. You can find more information on the programs here.